In Brief
- National Greetings: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has extended official Divali greetings on behalf of the Government to the Hindu community and the wider nation.
- Core Message: Drawing on the Holy Ramayana, the Prime Minister emphasised that a society’s true well-being is measured by mutual love, peace and dignity.
- Call to Action: Mrs Persad-Bissessar urged citizens to honour their ancestors’ resilience by ensuring opportunity for children, security for families, and dignity for the elderly.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has extended sincere Divali greetings to the Hindu community and all citizens sharing in the sacred celebration across the nation.
Reflecting on the significance of the festival in her official message, the Prime Minister pointed to the Holy Ramayana’s description of Lord Rama’s reign (Ramcharitmanas, Uttara Kanda, Doha 20, Chaupai 1), which offers a simple but profound measure of a society’s well-being: “All people loved one another.”
Persad-Bissessar stated that these words express Divali’s enduring promise, noting that “the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance finds its deepest meaning in bringing peace, dignity and hope into people’s lives.”
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the nation’s ancestors, who she said sustained that hope through hardship by preserving their faith, nurturing their families and sharing their light.
“Today, as people of every creed embrace Divali’s joy and hope, we honour a heritage that has helped shape our nation’s generosity and resilience,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She said, “Our task is to carry that spirit forward as we build our nation together. Love of country must mean care for its people: opportunity for children, security for families, dignity for elderly citizens, and a voice for every community.”
Looking beyond the immediate celebrations, the Prime Minister urged citizens to let the shared light of the festival strengthen national bonds and resolve. She called for mutual care, understanding, respect and tolerance to endure beyond Divali in order to deepen unity, overcome difficulties and build a more prosperous nation together.
Persad-Bissessar said, “May Mata Lakshmi bless every home with peace and abundance, every family with health and harmony, and every honest endeavour with prosperity. And may Her grace guide us to cherish our blessings and share them generously, so that well-being and happiness flourish throughout our nation. Shubh Divali to all.”
